The Max Born Institute (MBI) for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy was founded in 1992. It belongs to the "Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V." and is a member of the "Leibniz assoziation".

The institutional funding of the MBI is provided to 50% each by the federal governement and the states (Lšnder) of Germany, in particularly Berlin. It has presntly about 180 members of staff of which 90 are scientists (including PhD students).

The MBI conducts basic research in the field of nonlinear optics and ultrafast dynamics of the interaction of light with matter and pursues applications that emerge from this research. It develops and uses ultrafast and ultra-intense lasers and laser-driven short-pulse light sources in a broad spectral range in combination with methods of nonlinear spectroscopy.

With its research the MBI fullfills a nationwide mission and is an integral part of the international science community. It offers its facilities and its scientific know-how also to external researchers within the framework of an active guest programme. The MBI is involved in a large number and variety of cooperative reserach projects with universities, other research institutions and industrial partners.